With the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in full swing in Sochi Russia, the interest in everything "Olympics" is on the rise, including the adorable stuffed plush Olympic mascots that have appeared over the years and represent the fun side of the Games.
The very first official Olympic Mascot in the history of the Games was Waldi the Dachshund from the 1972 Munich Germany Summer Olympics.
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| Waldi Dachshund Olympic Mascot Munich Germany 1972 |
Waldi is a Dachshund Dog, a popular breed in Bavaria, representing the attributes an athlete must have of tenacity, resistance and agility. This Waldi is made from a twill denim fabric in the colours of the Olympic rings.
Misha the Bear Cub was the mascot of the 1980 Summer Games held in Moscow Russia (then called the USSR or Soviet Union). The Bear was the national symbol of the Soviet Union.
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| Misha the Bear Cub 1980 Olympics |
This Misha was made by R. Dakin from brown synthetic plush.
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| R Dakin Label for Misha 1980 |
Misha was also made as a ceramic figurine.
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| Misha Olympic Mascot figurines 1980 |
Not all mascots have been animals.
One of the Official Mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver Canada, was Quatchi Sasquatch, a mythological Canadian forest inhabitant.
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| Quatchi Sasquatch 2010 Olympic Mascot |
Designated an Olympic "sidekick" was Mukmuk the Marmot. A cute rodent from Vancouver Island.
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| Mukmuk the Marmot Olympic Sidekick 2010 |
Another 2010 Official Mascot was Miga, a mythical sea bear, part orca, part kermode bear. Both Mukmuk & Miga are licensed products made by Northern Gifts from velvet plush. Miga also shows the Wonderbread logo, one of the official sponsors of the games.
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| Miga the Sea Bear Mascot 2010 Olympics |
Sponsors have produced their own wares celebrating the Olympics. Air Canada came out with a necktie for the 2010 Games in a handsome blue with panels of pictorial images of different ski events.
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| Official Olympic Tie 2010 by Air Canada |
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Made of silk, Buffalo Bay USA produced a
necktie featuring the first computer generated official Olympic mascot
Izzy, a blue cartoon figure representing the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta USA. |
| Necktie features Izzy 1996 Olympics |
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| Olympic badges for the USA Teams over the years |
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| Olympic Badges for the USA Teams |
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| Miniature License Plate (top) Rome 1960 |
Miniature license plates, a collectible premium issued by a Dutch candy company Maple Leaf Ltd. in chocolate candy was available in Canada in the 1960s. Plates in the distinctly European elongated plate style featured one with the 1960 Olympic Games Logo for the Italian plate. The 1960 Summer Games were held in Rome.
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| Back of mini plate for Italy |
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| Souvenir Mug Beijing China Summer Olympics 2008 |
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| Beijing 2008 Summer Games |
The 2008 Summer Olympic Games were held in Beijing China. There were 5 Official Mascots called the Fuwa; a fish, giant panda, Olympic Flame, Tibetan antelope and a swallow. The Dancing Beijing Emblem of the Games is featured on the mug, baseball cap & scarf. A traditional Chinese Red Seal with a representation of the calligraphic symbol Jing.
Now, Go Canada, Go! Win big in Sochi!
Happy Olympic Hunting!
Bear Hugs
Mandy
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